Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with dslr and digital

Best camera setup for geo fieldwork?

fermion — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:46:58 -0800

What's the best digital camera and equipment to use for high-quality photography during geophysics fieldwork? I'm responsible for writing a proposal asking for more cameras for graduate student use, and I want to know what kind I should ask for. Is the image quality of a DSLR worth the extra expense and complexity, or would a high-quality non-SLR camera be better? What equipment will help make the best use of the camera in field conditions (e.g. carbon-fiber tripod, specialty camera case, additional lenses)?

Budget-wise, value-for-money is more important than hitting a specific number, although I think it would be difficult to get approval for more than a few thousand dollars.

Should be reasonably durable and low-maintenance, though it may not need to be actually "ruggedized." Should take good pictures in a variety of lighting conditions and not require too much fiddling. Probably does not need to be good at action shots.

Guides/tricks for my new DSLR?

meerkatty — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:55:24 -0800

Please help me use my new DSLR camera. Are there guides/tricks for specific cameras online? I took a course today on how to use my new Canon Rebel xti, which came with a handy password protected guide online. (The guide was far superior to the camera manual - with explanations of when and why you would use a certain function, complete with photo examples.) The course was a little basic for my needs but I can't take the more advanced part of the course for a few months. Are there guides along these lines available online?

Big bonus points for anyone who has the password for Henry's School of Imaging Canon xti Part 2 guide.

How useful is a 80-300mm lens for a DSLR?

unless I'm very much mistaken — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:52:28 -0800

Upgrading to a DSLR camera for the first time: how useful will an additional lens be? I want to buy an entry-level DSLR camera. I'm a keen walker, most of my photographs are landscapes and I don't want too much extra weight to carry if it can be avoided. For this reason, I am tempted by the Olympus E-410, shortly to be replaced by the E-420, but available in my budget range bundled with the 14-42 and 40-150mm lenses (it's a 4/3rds camera, so my understanding is that this means 28-84mm and 80-300mm in normal language).

This is the only DLSR deal I can find where I can afford the additional lens. I'm not likely to be able to be able to afford additional expenditure for at least 12 months. Am I likely to use the extra lens enough for this to tip the deal? (UK based, if that makes a difference)

Nikon goes full frame

matteo — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:40:59 -0800

I'm completely baffled by Nikon's DSLR strategy and I'd like to understand a few things better: first they create the DX line and seem to indicate that cropped is there to stay, now they go full frame. What should a serious film photographer who wants to go DSLR and already owns a bunch of excellent manual focus Nikon lenses do now? I also find baffling that they're not teling who manufactures their full-frame sensors -- don't potential customers have the right to know who makes the heart of the really expensive camera they may buy? Thanks.

A blogger, a camera and a course - my memory fails me.

slactoid — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 14:01:38 -0800

Anyone remember a (big?) blogger taking a photography class a few years back? I just got a dSLR and am reading everything I can find. For some reason, there's a thorn stuck in my brain that keeps reminding me of a blogger a few years back who decided to take a photography course to get better with their camera. I'd love to find their site / posts about it. My google skills have failed me. I also didn't book mark it on del.icio.us for some reason (it's possible that del.icio.us was just getting started when this all happened...). Here's one thing I remember:
One photo was of a parking lot (in snow?) with a single car in it (the car at the far left IIRC).

I don't expect much, but if this sparks a memory in anyone who can give me more to search on it'd be awesome.

20D or 30D? You tell me!

hammerthyme — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:05:57 -0800

Help me choose which Canon DSLR to buy and where to buy it. I'm going to buy a digital SLR and it is currently a toss up between the Canon 30D and the 20D. A few years ago, I owned the 10D and loved the rugged body but am not too sure about the ruggedness of the 20D or 30D.

My other problem is where to buy it from. I'm not opposed to buying refurbished from a site like refurbdeport.com but I am a little afraid of buying a "brand new" 30D for $499 from a site like expresscameras.com. If you think I'm better off with another camera, I welcome the input; any/all advice is nice. Thanks.

Which Nikon dSLR should I buy?

The Michael The — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 09:53:57 -0800

Which Nikon dSLR would you recommend for an advanced amateur, and why? I'm looking for a Nikon dSLR. I will be taking portraits, landscapes, urban scenes, travel photos, and art photos. Sports or action shots really aren't a concern. I'm an advanced amateur, and also a broke-ass grad student, so I can't just buy a new D200 like I wish I could.

I have an N80 film body right now, and with it two nikon AF primes (50/1.8, 28/2.8), which would be nice standard and portrait lenses. I was looking at the D40, as the image quality really is fantastic, on par or better (no, really) than any of the more expensive Nikons that I've looked at (based on the side-by-side image comparator on Imaging Resource... the D40 shots with stock lens really are mindblowing in lack of artifacts and richness of blacks). I also know the D40 won't autofocus my AF primes (which was the subject of a bitter debate yesterday here on AskMeFi). That doesn't bother me so much, as I spent the first several years of my photographic life with an old all-manual AE-1.

In lieu of the D40 and sticking to new cameras, I could afford a D50 body, which isn't too much of a step up (darker smaller viewfinder, smaller LCD screen, single-color histogram) but would AF my AF lenses.

If I wanted to go used, I could get a D70 (not D70s), which would be a bit higher-end than the D50 and has two dials for shutter and aperture for better all-manual control.

I've also been looking at the D100, which is ancient, but still 6MP and formerly a pro-level body. This is the most intriguing option, because it's likely a great camera (and certainly was at the time it was new), but will its age induce longing for newer features?

So if you have experience with the D100, or on multiple of these bodies, let me know what you think. Thanks!

Finish my work for me

AnyGuelmann — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 06:31:42 -0800

Help me find the perfect digital SLR camera to substitute my Minolta Maxxum 300si I have already done research and read reviews, now I need to be influenced towards one of my available choices.
Biased photographers, influence me away.

Myself as a photographer:
- Totally amateur
- Totally pretentious
- Not quite there as far as technique goes, but eager to improve

My preferences:
- 8x plus zoom
- 6 Mpx at least, but no real need to go beyond that
- Fast startup
- Manual focus, or an auto focus that gives me choices and lets me choose
- Possibly a stabilization feature, as long as somebody tells me it really works
- $500 - $800 range, lens included

My targets:
- Architecture and art - wide angle just important as good zoom (right?)
- Close ups of "step by step" DIY projects, Instructables style
- Pets, lots of close ups
- Travel and vacation, with a flare for those (pretentious) artsy shots

The selection so far:
- Pentax K100D / 18-55 mm
- Nikon D70s / 18-70 mm
- Canon Digital Rebel XT / 18-55 mm
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50s / 12x zoom

My doubts:
- Will I be able to screw in filters on all of these? I like filters.
- Should I buy separate body and lens?
- Btw, what are the basic filters I should have? I currently have the somewhat tacky fog and four-point star
- I guess a couple of these are not really SLRs, but will that make a difference, based on I told you above?
- The Maxxum 300si was discontinued, but did Minolta substitute it with any equivalent digital camera I might take a look at?

GPS ready Digital SLR Cameras

0bvious — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:16:52 -0800

GPS ready Digital SLRs : What are the best available? Coming soon? Am I better waiting until the industry catches up? I've been eyeing up digital SLRs for a while now (my past askmefi question), and have decided a GPS ready one would really hot things up.

(For those who don't know, Geo Positioning System (GPS)cameras will stamp every photo with your exact location on planet earth as it's taken.)

What's your opinions on this tech? Worth waiting until the next camera season?

Thanks

Help me pick out a D50?

dance — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 00:28:46 -0800

I'd love some help choosing a specific D50...please! Hi there, I'm keen to buy a Nikon D50 in time for a holiday in a week. There are a couple on eBay UK at the moment, and I'd love some advice if anyone has the time or inclination.

Specifically I'd like to know if what I'm looking at is good value for money, or if it's not.

These (I think) are all the D50s on eBay at the moment

and I am specifically interested in:

this one, from an Edinburgh photography shop, comes with two lenses (18-55 + 55-200) but priced at a massive(?) £530 inc p&p. Ends in a few hours

this one, from a seller who hasn't sold much at all, seems like it has the same two lenses as the above. currently at £265.00 but there are two days to go. p&p £15. Would I even get it in time though...

Any suggestions would be more than welcome. I'm going to sell my Nikon Coolpix 4500 to raise part of the funds.

What should I look for in a Digital Camera?

weston — Wed, 07 Jul 2004 18:36:49 -0800

What should I look for in a Digital Camera? Is there any indication of what takes better pictures than another? I'm familiar with resolutions and megapixels... I don't know about things like lenses and A/D converters, and what other issues may exist. Also: I'm interested in being able to wirelessly trigger the shutter, possibly at ranges up to several few hundred feet, though it's not an essential feature. Does any model out there come with this?